How it works in a nutshell...
Most people do it all over the internet and in email...
(1) First, CHECK AVAILABILITY here on-line to match rentals to when you want to stay.. To check
availability now <<click HERE>>.
(2) Then, you email and ask for a quote.. To email now <<click HERE>>.
We then put your information into our booking software and email you back a quote.
(3) Then you receive the quote in email from us with all charges broken down.
(4) Then it is simple to go on-line and pay.. To pay now <<click HERE>>.
(5) When you pay, we are notified by email of the payment.
(6) Then
(a) if you make a partial payment, we email back that we got that payment;
(b) if you make full payment, we email back the local driving directions and the code
to the lockbox.
(7) When you arrive you use the driving directions to get to the house, and you use the lockcode
to get the key to your rental.
(8) When you depart, you lock the rental and put the key back into the lockbox, and use the
driving directions in reverse.
Usually the time from asking about the space to finalizing with a payment happens within a day
or so, it can be faster. We work often in the fields or on the farm and much of our computer time
is in the early mornings and late evenings, but our time zone may be several hours different from
yours. To see how time zones compare <<click HERE>>.
ON-LINE BOOKING STREAMLINES THE PROCESS IF YOU WANT
TO USE IT...
The on-line booking will not process less than two nights, you would need to email for a manual
quote.
The on-line booking also will not process stays longer than 14 days, you would need to email for
a manual quote for stays longer than 2 weeks.
To email now <<click HERE>>.
THE ON-LINE BOOKING
(1) CHECKS FOR AVAILABLE RENTAL SPACES
(2) AND THEN COLLECTS THE INFORMATION WE NEED FROM YOU WITH A FORM!
To go to on-line booking <<click HERE>>.
We then put your information into our booking software and email you back a quote. From that
point it is the same as just sending an email above...
(3) Then you receive the quote in email from us with all charges broken down.
(4) Then it is simple to go on-line and pay.. To pay now <<click HERE>>.
(5) When you pay, we are notified by email of the payment.
(6) Then
(a) if you make a partial payment, we email back that we got that payment;
(b) if you make full payment, we email back the local driving directions and the code
to the lockbox.
(7) When you arrive you use the driving directions to get to the house, and you use the lockcode
to get the key to your rental.
(8) When you depart, you lock the rental and put the key back into the lockbox, and use the
driving directions in reverse.
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DISCOUNTS FOR LENGTH OF STAY
We discount by length of stay. Discounts and promos are subject to change. The current
discounts are 5% for 7 days, 10% for 14 days, 20% for 21 days and 25% at 28 days, 35% for a
month or more.
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We do not make any charges to your credit card when you provide that information before you
agree to the costs and authorize it. All charges are clearly shown on the quotes or confirmations,
there are no hidden or extra charges beyond what is on the confirmation.
Booking multiple units can be arranged subject to normal availability and policies. Generally if you
have need for a long stay or complex requirements like mutiple units, work well ahead of your
arrival. We often get fairly full 30 days ahead.
The house is located at a cool elevation of approximately 850 feet. It is on an acre of ground. The
structure is two level and contains three units. The bottom level has a studio unit and an
apartment unit. The top level is a complete house which can be either a one bedroom one bath or
three bedroom two bath complex.
All units are a two night stay minimum. If we do agree to rent for one night we reserve the right to
surcharge a nominal fee which varies from unit to unit.
The base cost of each unit assumes the number of people normally accomodated and this varies
by unit but is clearly stated in the RATES and FEATURES page; for extra people beyond the set
number it is $15 each extra person/night. You can offset this charge by adding a roll away bed
(subject to first come first serve) at no extra charge.
If you are coming in soon, best to call -- so we can expedite the process; we will need some time
to get to a computer to see our available times and process your quote; this is usually done in
email -- 99% of all our communications and funds transfers are internet based. It is
possible to process over the phone, or with both methods but seeing your quote in an
email is much easier than trying to explain over the phone.
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How to estimate what your charges would be or how do we calculate
our charges...
All rental charges for vacation rentals must be taxed if you are trying to figure without a quote,
add 11.42% taxes to rent (to the nights staying x rate); as well each booking will have a
refundable damage deposit added to the rent total, but the damage deposit is not taxable. There
is no cleaning fee. Each unit has a base rate for x number of occupants, if you have extra
occupants that is charged at $15 each per night plus tax. You can adjust the daily rate if you
qualify after staying continuously for several nights, look for the DISCOUNT information (above
this section) for when those apply and at what percentage. You would apply the discount to the
rental portion, not to the total with taxes or the total with deposit.
For example if you are staying two nights and the rate is $50 and the base rate is for 2 people
and there are two of you, and the Damage Deposit is $50, it would be $50 x 2 = $100, then add
11.42% tax ($11.42) = $111.42 subtotal + $50 Damage Deposit, so the total charges would be
$161.42, $50 of which would be refundable.
Second example -- if you are staying seven nights and the rate is $50 and the base rate is for 2
people and there are two of you, and the Damage Deposit is $50, it would be $50 x 7 = $350, but
we discount 5% for 7 days so $350 x .07 = $17.50, take 17.50 from 350 for 332.50, then add
11.42% tax ($37.97) = $370.47 subtotal + $50 Damage Deposit, so the total charges would be
$420.47, $50 of which would be refundable.
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What is the Deposit?...
We apply two types of deposits.
The first is the Damage Deposit, which is refundable and would be applied if you did not clean
up, took items, stayed late, common courtesy types of things. The Damage Deposit for each
rental is shown on the RATES and FEATURES page.
The second is the Hold or Booking or Security Deposit, this is what you would need to put
down to establish a reservation. In some cases we will not take a Hold or Booking or Security
Deposit but require the full amount to be paid in advance.
This works by a two part test. If your amount is less than or equal to $500 OR if your arrival is less
than 60 days, then the whole amont is due and payable to make the reservation. Otherwise, if
you arrive in more than 60 days AND your amount is more than $500, you can put down at least
$500 as a Hold/Booking/Security Deposit to make the reservation. At that point we will not allow
other potential guests to consider that span of time for that rental.
If you have made one payment to hold your reservation, and you are staying two months or less,
your balance is to be paid 60 days before your arrival date.
If you are staying for more than 60 days, you will make a payment 60 days before you arrive to
pay forward for two months and at each month of your stay you just keep your rent paid two
months in advance until you are two months from departure, then you have no more rent to pay
-- fairly simple to grasp. As with rentals that last less than two months, your damage deposit is
always refunded for any cancellation before you arrive if that situation arises.
Any rent amount for a stay of up to two months must be paid 60 days before arrival.
If your stay is more than two months, you keep paid two months in advance.
REPEAT GUESTS (in good standing)...
DO NOT HAVE TO PAY A DAMAGE DEPOSIT FOR THEIR FUTURE BOOKINGS!
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What should you do about cleaning up before you leave?...
We clean and put back to original order the units between clients. We do not do maid service
during your stay but will supply the materials you need to freshen up your unit; for stays longer
than 7 days, the washer and dryer are made available to you. You must give us priority for
washer and dryer use when we are on site to clean and turn over a rental.
When you leave you may leave your dirty linens for us to clean, but please put them in a bathtub
or on a tile floor. Remember we live in a warm climate all clothing and linens need to be aired out
and not left wet or they will mildew.
Each rental has a vacuum cleaner -- and other cleaning materials for you to use as needed... you
should leave your rental reasonable --you are not staying at a motel nor should you treat us like a
motel-- we give each guest a spotless environment when they arrive and you should leave it
broom clean not all trashed. If you want maid service and that sort of mentality, rent a motel and
pay motel rates.
Dishes and utensils are supplied to you spotless and should be left clean.
Your refrigerator and freezer were empty and clean when you arrived. Unopened cans of drinks,
sealed bottles of water, other usable food stuffs you want to leave for the next party is fine and
many people do that, however do not leave cups of grease, spoiled or open food in the fridge or
anywhere else requiring us to throw it away for you that is just a waste of our time and your
responsibility not ours -- old or open food and all your other trash should be cleaned up and taken
to the trash before we come in to clean. We spend lots of time between guests and sometimes
guests come in the same day you depart -- please help us do our best by cooperating.
Your trash containers should be emptied frequently into the main trash that is located at the
ground level between the house & the front of the garage in a corridor that runs to the right side
of the garage. Keep trash covers on the containers, in our climate this is a problem if overlooked.
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Can you be more detailed about what we are expected to do
regarding cleaning; getting the Damage Deposit returned; what is the
process?
Vacation rentals are not like a motel or hotel where you come in and dirty the place up and then a
maid comes in and makes it nice, then you come in the next day and dirty it up and that next day
a maid comes in and makes it all nice all over in a loop. There is a significant difference between
rates for one thing. You are paying for the privilege to make a mess in the more costly hotel or
motel. You also would be staying in a cloned “every unit is about the same box” environment with
busy parking lots, strangers roaming up and down halls, usually in a location that is hot and often
next to traffic and noise. Renting a vacation rental is like borrowing a home, and you should treat
it like a home.
Perhaps 1 guest in 12 or 15 will come in and make a mess and treat us like a discount motel.
They will leave dirty dishes, leave grease on the stove, leave spoiled food in the refrigerator,
won’t take out their trash. We had one incident where the guest left and so did the coffee pot (I
still don’t understand that one). Another incident where the VCR/DVD remote control was taken
and never returned. We have also had guests ignore their check out times, here we are arriving
to clean, we have to leave since they are still in the space, we end up wasting a whole afternoon
waiting for them to leave because they paid no attention to the check out time and they think no
one may want to check in after them or that we would not come in to clean??
So that is where the damage deposit helps protect us. Believe me we just want to come in and
clean and tidy up and get ready for the next group we would prefer that damage deposits were
not necessary but for that one apple in the barrel they are necessary.
The things you should do before you leave:
Take any food on dishes or in plastic wrap, etc that is stored in the refrigerator/freezer or
elsewhere and dispose of it into the trash and clean the dishes. Many people load their last dirty
dishes and wash in the dishwasher — that is fine.
Take the trash you collect out to the main trash bins between the house and the garage on the
ground level.
If you have edible sealed food like bottles of water, cans of food, people do leave those for the
next guest and that is fine, just don’t leave opened or spoiled food that is just being lazy and
inconsiderate.
Try to leave the premises broom clean — we obviously come in and clean (you will see when you
arrive that we are very picky and want things right) -- but leaving a trail of trash on the floor,
throwing luggage tags on the floor when there are trash containers is not considerate and
unnecessary behaviour. There are brooms, vacuums, cleaning clothes, cleaning supplies, trash
containers and trash bags left there for you to take care of the place while you are living there
and they should be used.
Put your wet towels in the bathtub, put them on a stone floor, or put them where they can air out.
In our climate they can mildew fast.
You don't have to make your beds or collect bed linens as you leave. Some people do and that is
fine -- we have been known to do that when we stayed at hotels -- we know where you are
coming from.
Turn off your fans and lights when you are not using them, electricity is very high in Hawaii, these
things left on when you are not actually using them is pure waste of money and limited resources.
The satellite receiver if left on cannot download its programming guide for you to see what is
available in the menus.
Leave on time and let us know if you will leave before the “designated check out time” if you are
leaving early we may come in early that is especially helpful when someone is coming after you.
The same applies to check in time, please don’t arrive early unless you have contacted us and
know the place will be ready. Also, if you know you will arrive after the “designated check in time”
let us know as again, that may give us the ability to work longer or not have to rush between the
last guest that left and you coming in.
We are not going to come in with a list and count the Kleenex. People forget to put a key back,
they mail it back. People do break a glass or a dish from time to time; a fork gets bent, these are
no big deals -- things wear out we replace things all the time; we don’t expect people to be
perfect — just not abusive.
We are concerned with those who come and leave the place full of trash, those who take 12
towels, the remote control or a coffee pot; those who can’t be bothered to wash their dishes or
clean out the refrigerator of their old food.
Many places change cleaning fees. We are resistant to that. Right now we seem to attract a lot of
people who are very nice and want a nice place to stay but are budget conscious. I don’t know
the number of times we have heard from these people how much they appreciate and are
pleased with the place and they leave it easy to take care of when they leave and they will be
back. That is the type of people we want to keep attracting so we will stick to our guns to keep the
rental rate down, the deposit basic and easy and hope we continue to have predominantly a very
good guest experience. I think if we start adding $100 or $250 cleaning fees like many places
have done we would repel the budget conscious nice people and attract more people who think
paying a rent fee means they won’t lift a finger -- and then this business becomes a big hassle, it
would be impossible to turn a unit in one day, we would dread to come in to see the mess and
ultimately we would not appreciate our customers or enjoy doing this. It all boils down to mutual
respect and common courtesy. A few people just have this concept from vacations at motels that
“it is alright to leave a mess”, but they confuse the fact we are not a motel nor are you paying
motel rates.
When you leave, we come right in at your departure time and start cleaning. Most of the time this
is very routine and I mark your record in my notes as all was okay. In fact many times I will have
the time to issue a reversal to your card while we are there (it can take 3 or 4 hours for the
bedding to wash and dry!). In instances where the guest paid months before we have to send
them a check or a PayPal payment as we can only reverse back payments for 60 days. If it is a
particularly hectic day I may do this later at home — but we try very hard to send back your
damage deposit promptly.
The one in 12 or 15 guest that leaves that big mess, takes stuff they should not, does not check
out on time and ties us up all afternoon when we made a trip in expecting them to be departed,
yes we keep the damage deposit, that is what it is there for.
Repeat customers do not need to place a damage deposit, and they are “grandfathered” at the
current rate against rate hikes in the future. We appreciate our guests who have shown they are
responsible and reward them for their efforts.
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We will provide reasonable requests for extra bedding such as sleeping mats, etc. as a courtesy
FREE OF CHARGE subject to availability.
In our experience most people carry their own cell phones. You may request a phone be put into
your unit. There is no dial 0+ or 1+ out calling allowed, and the phones do not ring in but for
calling local especially if you have no cellphone or low calling minutes on your cellphone, in that
case the wireless phone may come in handy for you and local calls are FREE OF CHARGE.
Iron and ironing board are provided in each unit FREE OF CHARGE.
Our parking is FREE OF CHARGE.
Credit card and other payment processing fees are absorbed in the rates, not added or
extra.
We do have WIFI, and the use of wireless internet with your computer is FREE OF CHARGE,
subject to availability (some areas may be less strong than others) and your ability to be
computer savy enough to connect. Some ISPs will not allow you to send mail from outside your
ISP's domain and we have no control over such restrictions.
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Sorry, we do not have facilities for pets. (The house rental has some provisions, please email for
a case by case basis.)
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To see our advice about using a guidebook <<click HERE>>.
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Our clients have asked some important and interesting questions and when we answer we also
put these onto our FAQ page, please read it to see what others already thought to ask: <<click